West Texas Wild: Prairie Lizard

By MICHAEL S. PRICE

Published 2:56 am, Tuesday, September 9, 2014

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West Texas Wild: Prairie Lizard

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Now that I have children of my own and am privy to the shenanigans they sometimes perform, I have a greater sense of appreciation for the patience that my own parents exhibited when I was a developing young naturalist. Many of the animals that I encountered as a youngster were of course collected, and I have doting memories of several lizards that resided in my room. One lizard species in particular, known as the Prairie Lizard, would reside on my wooden bedframe in front of my window and would become familiar enough with my presence to allow me to hand-feed them.

Commonly referred to “Fence Lizards” by antiquated texts, the Prairie Lizard (Sceloporus consobrinus) is one of seven species of “spiny lizards” that reside in Texas, and it considerably has the largest area of distribution. This variety can be observed throughout the entire state, save for the arid regions west of the mighty Pecos River, where it is replaced by a close relative that was only recently found to be taxonomically diverse. Outside of this great state it occurs from western Louisiana northward to Missouri, westward to southwestern Nebraska and southward through extreme eastern New Mexico. Its range in Mexico has yet to be fully ascertained, although I have seen individuals that appear to be Prairie Lizards in the Mexican states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and San Luis Potosi. Further investigations are required to fully establish its known range.

This species of spiny lizard is oftentimes far more terrestrial than the majority of its cousins. It thrives in areas of openness such as grasslands, rocky hillsides, and semi-arid scrublands.

The genus to which this species belongs to is known as the “spiny lizards,” and as such, this species has dorsal (back) scales that are quite bristly. The most distinguishing characteristics of this species are the presence of three pronounced stripes on the back. The middle stripe is gray and broad, occurs along the midline of the spine and is known as a vertebral stripe. Set on either side of this vertebral stripe are two very distinctive light dorsolateral stripes that run lengthwise down the body of the lizard. In between these light dorsolateral stripes and the vertebral stripe are small black spots that are sometimes in the shape of crescent moons. More often than not, there is also a light stripe that is scarcely visible that runs from front limb to back limb along the side of the belly. Background coloration varies from gray to tan to reddish brown and is largely dependent upon the coloration of the soils where that particular resides.

From above, males and females are not easily discernable from each other. But if one examines the belly of this lizard, then the ability to tell the sexes from one another is quite simple. Mature males have two black-bordered blue patches on either side of the belly, as well as on the throat region; females lack such coloration.

Males are the larger sex, achieving total lengths of up to seven inches, although most attain a length of just under six inches. Females are slightly smaller than the males, topping out at approximately five inches.

“Fence Lizards,” like other lizard species, are “cold-blooded,” or ectothermic. This means that they do not generate heat from the inside of their body, as mammals and birds do, but rather are dependent on outside sources for heating and cooling. They are active throughout the day from early April to October, and unlike many other reptile species, the high metabolism of this lizard enables it to be observed during the hottest part of the summer afternoons.

This species of lizard is an opportunistic carnivore, feeding primarily on small crickets, grasshoppers, flies and moths that it encounters in its daily diurnal activities.

The Prairie Lizard is oviparous, which is a fancy way of saying that it lays eggs. After emerging from the winter-long brumation period (reptiles do not hibernate in the true sense of the word), males will search out females to mate. After mating, the female will lay a medium-sized clutch of eggs (averaging nine) in moisture retaining soil. Females will lay multiple clutches of eggs per summer. After approximately two months of incubation, the diminutive two-inch long young emerge prepared to fend for and care for themselves.

While this variety of spiny lizard is exceedingly alert, it tends to not be tremendously wary. Many will sit motionless when approached, darting off at the seemingly last possible moment. This behavior allows for some spectacular photography of individuals as they go about their business.